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Connectome analysis for pre-operative brain mapping in neurosurgery.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Hart, Michael G 
Price, Stephen J 

Abstract

OBJECT: Brain mapping has entered a new era focusing on complex network connectivity. Central to this is the search for the connectome or the brains 'wiring diagram'. Graph theory analysis of the connectome allows understanding of the importance of regions to network function, and the consequences of their impairment or excision. Our goal was to apply connectome analysis in patients with brain tumours to characterise overall network topology and individual patterns of connectivity alterations. METHODS: Resting-state functional MRI data were acquired using multi-echo, echo planar imaging pre-operatively from five participants each with a right temporal-parietal-occipital glioblastoma. Complex networks analysis was initiated by parcellating the brain into anatomically regions amongst which connections were identified by retaining the most significant correlations between the respective wavelet decomposed time-series. RESULTS: Key characteristics of complex networks described in healthy controls were preserved in these patients, including ubiquitous small world organization. An exponentially truncated power law fit to the degree distribution predicted findings of general network robustness to injury but with a core of hubs exhibiting disproportionate vulnerability. Tumours produced a consistent reduction in local and long-range connectivity with distinct patterns of connection loss depending on lesion location. CONCLUSIONS: Connectome analysis is a feasible and novel approach to brain mapping in individual patients with brain tumours. Applications to pre-surgical planning include identifying regions critical to network function that should be preserved and visualising connections at risk from tumour resection. In the future one could use such data to model functional plasticity and recovery of cognitive deficits.

Description

Keywords

Brain mapping, connectome, echo-planar imaging, glioblastoma, magnetic resonance imaging, neurosurgery, Adult, Aged, Brain Mapping, Brain Neoplasms, Connectome, Echo-Planar Imaging, Female, Glioblastoma, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Intraoperative Care, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Procedures, Reproducibility of Results, Wavelet Analysis

Journal Title

Br J Neurosurg

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0268-8697
1360-046X

Volume Title

Publisher

Informa UK Limited
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (093875/Z/10/Z)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR/CS/009/011)
S. J. P. received funding for this study through a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) – Clinician Scientist Award (Ref: NIHR/CS/009/011). M. G. H. is funded by the Wellcome Trust Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network with additional support from the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. This paper presents independent research funded by the NIHR.